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Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
'To be coached by him is to be loved.' Noblesville softball carries assistant's memory with them
WEST LAFAYETTE – A few parents are there to welcome the Noblesville softball team upon its arrival at Harrison High School for Wednesday's Class 4A regional championship game. It's a dreary, humid afternoon and there are concerns over an incoming storm front, but that's done little to dampen the excitement. One fan waves a giant black-and-gold flag, while another proudly rings a cowbell as the players step off the bus. And everyone is cheering. The Millers are wearing their black pinstripe uniforms for the occasion and nearly everyone has the same word written on their arm: Lutz. That's been a season-long tradition for this tightly knit group, a tribute to longtime assistant coach Craig Lutz, who died of a sudden medical emergency in early January. He was 53. "It's a good thing to see his name physically there," senior pitcher Emme Yee said Thursday from inside the NHS press box. "Seeing his name on our arms, especially when you're looking at a call on your wristband, it's a reminder that he's there and he's present with us." Lutz's ties to Noblesville run deep. A 1990 graduate himself, he played baseball with senior second baseman Addi Emmerson's uncle, basketball with senior outfielder Macie Duvall's uncles and helped coach senior outfielder Delaney Rundle's brother, Bret, on the Millers' 2014 state champion baseball team. Lutz poured his heart into the school every day and was always there for his players with a smile on his face, ready to make them laugh, Rundle said. "If you were coached by him, you knew what love was. He was an amazing person." Noblesville coach Deke Bullard and assistant coach Jennifer Thompson informed their players of Lutz's passing the morning after his death. As their teammates dispersed, the seniors — Duvall, Emmerson, Rundle, Yee, Nevaeh Nash and Brookelyn Grayson — stayed behind. They were processing it, said Nash, an IU signee. Some cried. Some didn't. "We just stayed together." There was anger, Rundle added. Why does this have to happen to us, to our community? Why did someone who was so important to us have to be taken away from our lives? "But we realized in that moment that we were going to be playing for him each and every single day. It was going to be all for him," the Marian-bound outfielder continued. "Obviously that day was super hard, but I think it brought our team a lot closer and made us realize life is short, so you need to cherish the things you have and the moments you have with the people you love." Noblesville had just begun loosening up when the first wave of precipitation arrived, a steady drizzle that steadily intensified over the next 30 minutes. Don't let the weather affect you, a coach calls out. It's impacted you too many times this year. The team is eventually forced into the dugout where after a few minutes, Bullard gathers them together on the home-plate side. He explains there is a tight window for them to fit the game into and urges his players to start fast. Harrison's 10-12 record may indicate otherwise, but it's extremely dangerous and not one to let hang around, he says. Get ahead early and don't let up. "You guys have prepared for this moment," assistant coach Shawn Kauzlick says. "You are ready for today, ready for this test. Let's show them what we can do." Time to get it done. When the rain relents and the teams are cleared to continue pregame prep, Thompson watches over starter Addison Retzinger as she warms up with catcher Reese Newsom. The sophomore pitcher has been brilliant this season, collecting six wins and 138 strikeouts with a 2.54 ERA, and as she nears the end of her session Wednesday, Thompson provides an assessment to Bullard: "Have you seen her screwball today? It's like, woah." There was no hesitancy — among the seniors, at least — about returning to the diamond following Lutz's untimely passing. It lit a fire under them; galvanized them, Rundle said. They were playing for something much bigger than themselves. Do it for Lutz. That's been Noblesville's slogan this season, a source of inspiration as it won 16 games against one of the state's toughest schedules, then eliminated No. 9 Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers and No. 3 Zionsville en route to its ninth sectional title. You'll find it on all their social media channels, on the stickers affixed to the back of each player's helmet and on the practice shirts and blue wristbands the seniors designed before the season. Do it for Lutz. "That is something I'm taking outside of Noblesville," said Duvall, a Glenville State signee who's been out injured since April 28. "I'm gonna play for Lutz my next four years. It's not something I'm going to leave. I'm going to wear this bracelet until it breaks. And when I break this one, I'll get a new one." Lutz had at least 30 family members in attendance for this year's Miller Invite, the seniors estimated. And all of them were sitting in the front row, wearing the same blue shirts as the players with a script Millers across the front and Lutz written across the back — except for his grandchildren, whose shirts said "Pop Pop Lutz" on the back. For Wednesday's regional, Amy Lutz, Craig's wife, gave the entire team friendship bracelets with one of her husband's favorite phrases: "Deuces, get 'em hot." (Whenever the count reached 2-2 with two outs, he would call that out as the players swiped two fingers across their temple.) Amy also gave them a large, framed photo of Lutz, asking if they would bring Craig with them to West Lafayette. "He would want more than anything to be here with us (and) I was glad that he was there for us," Emmerson said, referencing the photo which they leaned on the bench inside their dugout. "Amy is doing exactly what Lutz did. He always cared for us," Emmerson later added. "That whole family is such a blessing to our program and getting to play for him — I don't know if there's ever a program or coach that I'm going to play for that is going to be so impactful. It's unfortunate he didn't get to be with us this season, but I will never take the last three years for granted." The somber tone as the Millers head inside Harrison High School for the game's first rain delay makes it feel as if they're on the verge of being run-ruled. The players line either side of the hallway and are sitting mostly in silence until Bullard walks down the aisle and reminds them where they stand. Yes, the Raiders seized momentum with a double right before the break, but it's still only the second inning of a scoreless game. "What kind of team are we? Don't let it bother you. It happens." "You're going to get punched in the mouth. You have to respond. We just have to do it as a team," he concludes before walking outside. "We've had the curse of the rain," Duvall said the following morning. "I went back (Wednesday) night and thought about every single game we played in the rain — and we've struggled each time. So I think it was underlying thoughts of, 'Oh no, we're playing in the rain and we've struggled with that in the past.' It made us tense up." After a few minutes of silence, Grayson addresses the team, analyzing Harrison pitcher Bradi Odom and strategizing how she and her teammates should adjust. "Thanks, coach Brookie," a teammate says. Grayson, a Duke commit, is back with the Millers following a two-year hiatus and has been a perfect fit. A first team All-State honoree, she leads the team in average (.545), hits (42) and runs (35) and ranks third with 23 RBIs, while in the field, having her at shortstop has allowed everyone else to return to their natural positions. "Brookie is someone I look to when I need someone to pick me up and need encouragement," Rundle said, both responsibilities all six seniors have embraced this season. "We've taken the role of not necessarily being the type of leader who bosses people around, but picks other people up," she continued. "Each of us has been selfless this year." "Addi prays for the team before every game which helps us settle in, and of course we're always thinking of Lutz and reminding ourselves that he's here with us," Grayson added. "I think that gives us a moment to relax and say 'We're here. This is an opportunity we need to take advantage of and not be scared of the moment.'" As the rains begin letting up, Bullard re-enters and offers another pep talk before play resumes, imploring them to find their energy and asking how many games they've been down in. We're not even down, Emmerson interjects. "Yeah," Bullard continues, "you guys are acting like your dog just died." It was at this point the players immediately looked at Grayson. Unbeknownst to Bullard, her cat recently ran away and "is likely dead now" — making for an awkward, but also darkly humorous exchange that brought a bit of levity to the room. "How bad do we want it?" one of the seniors calls out as the Millers file out of the building. "We didn't come all the way up here just to lie down." Rundle kept repeating the same thing over and over to Izzy Zapp as she tracked a third-inning fly ball to right field. Trust yourself. Trust yourself. Trust yourself. No one was blaming Zapp for the second-inning double that preceded the initial rain delay and ultimately resulted in Harrison's first run. It's normally a routine play for the sophomore outfielder, but with raindrops the size of mini-marshmallows pelting her in the face, the level of difficulty was raised exponentially. "She's made how many catches out there in that exact same spot?" Grayson said. "Watching that play I was like, 'Oh, she's going to catch it,' but when there's a downpour coming at you and you're looking up — I mean, for me at least, I wouldn't be able to catch it." It can be easy for a player to get down on themselves in that situation, Rundle observed, so the seniors and coaches immediately set about picking up Zapp. "Knowing that she has her teammates behind her has really helped her throughout the season, but Izzy's definitely had a huge role in our success," she said. Trust yourself. When Harrison hit a fly ball to the exact same spot in the third, Zapp fielded it without incident, stranding a runner on second and holding the score at 1-0. "That's really us embodying Lutz," Emmerson said, recalling how Lutz would tell her a joke, then ask her to give one back to keep her spirits up during games and at practice. "That's exactly how he was. Always positive and encouraging," the Lee commit continued. "And I think missing him challenged us to fulfill that role in ways, as teammates, that we hadn't thought of before." There's a sense of confidence among the seniors as they look ahead to the final 2.5 innings of their 4A regional final vs. Harrison from the NHS parking lot Thursday morning. They understand the challenge ahead, but also recognize this type of situation can bring out the best in them, accentuating the grittiness that enabled this group to have so much success. And considering what they've already overcome this season, by no means does a 7-0 deficit with no outs in the bottom of the fifth seem insurmountable "I know he's probably listening to this interview right now, so Lutz, we all love you and we miss you. And we can't wait to keep playing for you," Rundle smiled. Noblesville's journey ended Thursday night, 24 hours after it began. The Millers escaped the fifth inning without allowing another run, but were unable to capitalize with two runners on in the sixth, then went down in order in the seventh. Final score: 7-0. Harrison (11-12) advances to face Penn in Saturday's semistate semifinal; Noblesville finishes 19-8. As they reflected upon the possible end of their season, the seniors — as they have all year — were quick to provide perspective. "Having the chance to play at regionals and having the chance to play in general is just a blessing," the Bellarmine-bound Yee said. "To be here together in this community, in this program, is something we should cherish. Win or lose, we should do what Lutz did and have a smile on our face; be positive and carry on his (legacy) and the love he had for his family and everyone around him. That's something we should all carry on together, not just in softball, but in life in general."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Zionsville outlasted Lafayette Jeff in IHSAA boys volleyball sectional thriller
WEST LAFAYETTE ― The clash between Zionsville and Lafayette Jeff Thursday, May 15, indicated just how far boys volleyball in Indiana has come as it concludes the first season under IHSAA overwatch. While the Indianapolis area has produced nationally ranked high school teams, there were questions about whether or not Lafayette Jeff could handle the size and pressure brought about by Zionsville. Advertisement Zionsville beat Lafayette Jeff twice during the regular season but faced determined resistance from the Bronchos. Zionsville was more consistent. Seniors 6-foot-5 outside hitter Anders Christianson pounded 15 kills, left hander Mason Archer slammed 11 kills and Liam Vigil added 10 kills as the Eagles outlasted Lafayette Jeff in a first-round thriller of the IHSAA sectional quarterfinals, 11-25, 25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11. The other sectional quarterfinal saw Harrison sweep North Putnam in three sets, 25-11, 25-8, 25-20. Harrison will face Zionsville in the second semifinal Saturday, May 17, with the championship game later that night at Harrison. More: Boys volleyball experiencing growing pains despite popularity in first season under IHSAA Advertisement More: Take your pick: Vote for the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week for May 4 to May 10 Lafayette Jeff Bronchos Edwin Rodriguez (3) celebrates with Lafayette Jeff Bronchos Joshua Waller (1) Thursday, May 15, 2025, during the IHSAA boys volleyball sectionals match against the Zionsville Eagles at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana. Senior captain Kevin Braxton led the Bronchos with 14 kills, junior Azlan Rodriguez added 13 kills and junior setter Josh Waller totaled eight kills, 12 digs and four assists for Lafayette Jeff (17-8). "We played amazing, we played with our heart, and we made a bridge off that," Waller said. "We played as a family, and we were all there." Lafayette Jeff struggled containing Christianson while Zionsville (22-10) collectively began hitting short middle shots. Zionsville overcame being down 15-9 in the third set before Lafayette Jeff rallied in the fourth. Advertisement Lafayette Jeff forced the fifth set despite starting junior middle blocker Colin Smith injuring his left ankle in the fourth frame. "It was a heartbreaker, but we knew he was going to support us no matter what, whether he was on the court or on the bench," Braxton said. More: Lafayette Jeff and McCutcheon reflects on first IHSAA boys volleyball game Lafayette Jeff will many return key players next year, including Rodriguez and Waller, who are receiving college looks. Rodriguez led the Bronchos with 208 kills while Waller proved to be a well-rounded player, totaling 118 kills, 102 digs and 59 assists for the 2025 campaign. The Zionsville Eagles celebrate Thursday, May 15, 2025, during the IHSAA boys volleyball sectionals match against the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana. Set-by-set breakdown of Lafayette Jeff vs. Zionsville Set one: Zionsville looked like a team that woke up from a nap, while Lafayette Jeff looked engaged from the jump. A 3-0 lead ballooned to an 18-6 advantage. Junior setter Josh Waller and libero Edwin Rodriguez-Arteaga led a strong shot receive and never looked out of sorts. The balance of Waller set the stage for senior Kevin Braxton with three kills and a block. Junior Azlan Rodriguez has a 4-foot vertical and swift enough to play defensive specialist or libero in college. Lafayette Jeff couldn't have asked for a better start. Advertisement Set two: Zionsville senior lefty outside hitter Mason Archer went on the offensive. Controlling passing in the back row, they were able to turn the momentum of the match. Short side and far side shots found their mark and the back row for Lafayette Jeff splintered. Zionsville won the set by five, but the gap felt larger. Set three: Zionsville kept its composure in the crunch and Lafayette Jeff didn't. A pair of late third set hitting errors plus a debated touch ultimately helped the Eagles claw back from a 15-9 deficit to take set three. Christianson and Archer provided the juice offensively backed by libero Landon Scroggins. Rodriguez had the highlight play, but Zionsville was more consistent in its shot receive. More: Lafayette Jeff boys volleyball returns core players in 2025 Advertisement Set four: This set illustrated what makes the speed and strategy of volleyball entertaining and fun. And it came with some drama with Smith's injury. Senior Kmaury Moten gave Lafayette Jeff a boost off the bench, while an explosive effort from Rodriguez and Josh Waller forced a fifth set. Set five: Lafayette Jeff ran out of steam, struggling against the physicality of Archer, Vigil and Christianson. Rodriguez had some flashes, but errors on shot receive doomed Lafayette Jeff. Harrison Raiders Emerson Mohr (10) celebrates with Harrison Raiders opposite Josiah Callahan (1) Thursday, May 15, 2025, during the IHSAA boys volleyball sectionals match against the North Putnam Cougars at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana. Harrison learns lessons in sweep over North Putnam Harrison, led by sophomore 6-foot-3 outside hitter Cole Hess and junior Emerson Mohr, made the first two sets look easy. Advertisement But then an 8-4 deficit morphed into a 14-10 drought against North Putnam (5-11) in the third set. "I think our communication was off and we brought that connection back up," Mohr said. Eventually Harrison found its way to earn the sweep and set up a semifinal matchup with Zionsville on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The winner plays either McCutcheon (14-9) or Lebanon (4-7-1) for the first IHSAA sectional championship in Harold May Gymnasium in West Lafayette at 6 p.m. later that day. More: Mackey Arena to host inaugural IHSAA boys state volleyball championship Hess believes Harrison is prepared to play Zionsville, ranked No. 6 in the state according to rankings on Advertisement "I think they're more beatable now, now that we got to watch them play," Hess said. Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@ on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson . This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette Jeff, Zionsville battle in IHSAA boys volleyball sectionals
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Braves announcer and Harrison grad Brandon Gaudin returns to Evansville
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Braves play-by-play announcer and Harrison high school grad Brandon Gaudin returned to Evansville as part of the 25th Night of Memories. 'When I came back yesterday, and I got in the rental car, I wanted to drive past the old Harrison High School baseball field,' Gaudin said. 'I wanted to go by there to remember where I first put on the headset, where I first got to do play by play.' Gaudin has appeared on the popular video game Madden, and has called a number of NFL, MLB, and college sporting events. But he said returning home helped him fall in love with the process all over again. 'It makes me remember why I got into this,' he said. 'And no matter where I have been, whether it's been baseball, basketball, football, minor leagues, professional level, I remember I got into it because I love sport.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
